Natty's Picks of the Week - Volume 14

Published: April 6, 2011

By: Natty Morrison

Mmm, springtime. The frozen tundra of Indiana have finally cracked, and sunshine has begun flooding my hometown with warmth and happiness. Looks like it’s time for me to pop this shirt off and get my bronze on. But while I do, here are some fresh tracks that have been on my mind in these warm days. Checking out my chest hair? You know, I grow it all myself. Same with the back hair. Oh come on now, don’t act like you’re not impressed.

1. “Grins” - Mr. Savz ft. Bisco Smith and Turnbull Green

This track starts off with a loping bass loop, drops fresh rhymes and then turns into an all out croonfest. Mr. Savz is a master of production, adding subtle layers of drum hits and patient bass lines. Bisco Smith is a talented emcee, and he makes mincemeat of the beat by finding all the right pockets to drop his words in. And then there’s Turnbull Green, the Wolfman. I simply cannot get enough of this guy’s voice; half crooned, half wounded and all sincere, I hope he sings on every track on which I hit play.

Dubstep is all about the drop, so it’s ironic to hear a cut that doesn’t have one. Using the intense string section of the classic Justice song, Nero pushes the sample to new heights of intensity, refusing to drop or resolve. This should get you heart pumping, or at least skipping beats.

LCD played its last shows in New York this weekend, so in humble tribute I present one of the best album closers in recent memory. They might not be traditional Untz material, but James Murphy has been bringing electronic music to disco punks and indie-rock partygoers since 2002. And for that, I salute you.

This song feels like a murky whiskey drunk got shot up with steroids and pure adrenocrome. The mid range is all low-end, but it gets topped off by a beautiful melody that sails over the top of this dark track.

5. “The Wolf Inside You” - Turnbull Green

I don’t want to come off as being bias, but I just couldn’t help myself. This was uploaded Wednesday and since then I’ve played it 14 times. Check out how he uses messy electronic noise to create something so moving it will literally move your neck muscles and flat feet.

If you’re an artist who’d like to be featured on Natty’s Picks of the Week, shoot me an email at natty@theuntz.com.